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And if they do manage to sneak into the play-offs this season, the Knights will look back on tonight's performance across the ditch as the catalyst.

With their season on the line at a ground where they hadn't tasted success for seven years, Wayne Bennett's men defied the odds to sink the Warriors in front of a stunned Kiwi crowd at Mt Smart Stadium.

Shell-shocked from an early Warriors onslaught which yielded 18 unanswered points at better than a point a minute, the Knights somehow found the will to claw their way back into the contest and eventually subdue the home side.

Fullback Darius Boyd again starred for Newcastle while wingers Akuila Uate and Kevin Naiqama provided the flashes of brilliance outwide as the Knights dominated the second half to take the vital competition points.

Skipper Danny Buderus and backrower Chris Houston were tireless in defence while the kicking game of Jarrod Mullen and the goal-kicking of Tyrone Roberts were highly influencial in the shock result.

They had hardly touched the football and were in further trouble when Mateo again laid off a pass for prop Ben Matulino to storm through Zane Tetevano to cross for his side's third try.

It was 18-0 after 17 minutes.

It took some brilliance from Boyd to finally breathe some life back into the contest.

He produced a pin-point cut-out pass for Akuila Uate to cross in the corner to narrow the gap to 18-6.

And then right on halftime just moments after James Maloney had extended his side's advantage to 19-6, Boyd produced another money ball, this time for his other winger Kevin Naiqama to score.

Tyrone Roberts again nailed the sideline conversion to give his side momentum going into the halftime break trailling 19-12.

Uate bombed a certain try early in the second half when he spilt the ball cold over the line under no pressure.But he made up for the error moments later when he defused a dangerous Warriors bomb before bringing the ball back with interest.

With the Warriors defence on the back foot, the Knights spread the ball wide with centre Timana Tahu spearing through to score outwide.

Roberts again converted and it was suddenly a one point ball-game.

The Knights remarkable comeback was complete when the Warriors paid the penalty for a lack of composure on the last tackle.

They chose to run the ball instead of getting to their kick with young winger Omar Slaimankhel coming up with a mistake which allowed Knights centre Dane Gagai to run 65 metres to score.

With 18 minutes left on the clock, the Knights incredibly found themselves in front 24-19.

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